Croc-Hero Carries Unconscious Wife Through Crocodile Infested Waters

A couple in Darwin was forced to wade through crocodile-inhabited waters so Allan Di-Prima could seek help for his unconscious wife Zerena Di-Prima. They were out on a typical day fishing in Leaders Creek when things took a turn for the worse and they became stranded by a low tide.

The whole ordeal took place around six weeks ago and it began when Mrs. Di-Prima suffered a severe anaphylactic reaction to a March fly bite. "March flies can be pretty vicious up here," said Mrs. Di-Prima. "I had a bad bite on my toe and it was really hurting, like more than usual."

"My whole body started to come up with hives and a rash. I started freaking out a little bit, my sight started to go in and out," she explained. "Allan was yelling at me like, 'How many fingers have I got up' and I just couldn't see anything, it just faded to black and I passed out."

Ultimately Allan Di-Prima carried his wife through the tide passing many large holes that easily have housed a crocodile. He even tried to wake her up by pouring cold water on her while trying to get back to the boat ramp. Mr. Di-Prima described his wife's condition saying, "Then she started convulsing and her eyes rolled back in her head, she started flopping into the front seat."

"She had absolutely no motor functions at all … I just kept trying to get to the ramp because it was the only way I knew to get her to safety," he continued. "I was nearly dry-retching because of thirst. I was just in survival mode just trying to get back and get some help."

"Out of nowhere she came to, and started talking to me, we both hopped out of the boat and I said, 'We've got to go, we've got to walk to the ramp'," Di-Prima continued. "The mud was well over my knees and depth and I was trying to carry her through it and trying to get her to help me get over some rocks, a few wood holes where there could've been a good sized croc or something like that hanging out."

Doctors said they were certain the severe anaphylactic reaction was due to the single March fly bite on her toe despite never having a prior allergic reaction before. Mrs. Di-Prima warned of the danger she faced saying, "If you know you have anaphylactic reaction to things, make sure you take that Epipen with you, plenty of water, all your safety gear. And always take a fishing buddy, because one day it could save your life."